The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-27
A PERVERTED PARROT.
The Trouble Which the Folsom Boys
Have Caused the Widow Bemis.
From the Chicago Nems.

From the Chicago Netos
Mrs Lucretia Bemis is widow living at
6S2 Honore street. Her husband was sea
captain, and when he died. about fifteen
years ago. he left his wife, among other
worldly goods, a large green parrot, versa
tile alike in pumage and in conversational
powers. This parrot was named Neptune
modest tribute to the trident-bear1ng
deity whose domain had been traversed so
often by old Capt. Bemis. The Widow Bemis
enjoys the reputation of a devoutly religious
woman-a woman whose conversation and
deeds are marked by singular Piety. Since
the demise of her beloved husband she has
lavished the wealth of her affections upon
the parrot Neptune, and has devoted much
time to teaching the bird religious hymns
and cant phrases.
The Folsom boys live next to Mrs Bemis
There are three of them, and they are Is,
IS and 10 years old, respectively. Their
father is blacksmith, and he is an industri-
Gus man, but these three boys are so won
drOusly shiftless that they appear to have
given themselves over body and soul, TO
the devilish devices of Satan About
month ago these abandoned youths turned
their diabolical attention to the beguiling of
the Widow Bemis' parrot into sinful ways.
From their back door step they held artful
discourse with the parrot as he perched in
the window of the second story back room,
and ere long they taught the guileless and
unsuspecting bird divers ribald words, pro-
fame expIetives and wicked phrases likely
TO cause blush of shame, if not a thrill of
horror, when heard in polite society.
Last Saturday the Widow Bemis hap
pened to hear the parrot explode an oath,
and to punish him for the shocking offense,
the proper dame locked him up in the garrett
for several days and fed him nothing but
dry bread On Tuesday she believed him
punished sufficiently, and she brought him
down into the sitting room. The detected
countenance he wore and the melancholy
droop OF his tail-teathers convinced Mrs.
Bemis that Neptune was truly penitent. and
thereat the good lady much rejoiced.
On Tuesday evening the regular old
folks prayer meeting was held at Mrs.
Bemls', and the attendance was somewhat
larger than usual. The ceremonies had
reached the most impressive point when the
parrot, who had maintaiNed a gloomy
silence all day, calculated suddenly and in
harsh, discOrdant tones: "Rats" 1t would
be hard to conceive of an interruption more
NAL apropoS, more shocking.
The Widow Bemis made plunge for the
depraved bird, with the intention of incar-
cerating him again in the garnet, but, as he
foresaw her design, the parrot ripped out
volley of oaths so prodigiously shocking
that the Widow Bemis fell back and over
on the foor and lay there like one dead.
Old MIR. Sawyer made pass at Neptune
with his cane. but all he did was to knock
some veneering off the haircloth sofa The
profane bird thereupon opened out on Mr..
Sawyer, and the hideous explosives he
rasped out drove that worthy old gentle
man very nearly into an apoplectic fit 1t
seemed as if the bird had become possessed
of seven devils; at any rate, never before
had the ears of his auditors been burdened
with such a hoodtide of ribaldry and pro-
family as he launched out from his perch at
the back of the haircloth sofa.
The CONSERVATION, the panic, occasioned
by this horrifying episode can have no
parallel in history, unless, perchance, we
except the famous stampede excited among
the nuns by the accomplished psittacine
prodigy which Father Prous has immortal
lied. ..-.....
The Widow Bemis swore out warrant
against the Folsom boys yesterday, and
Justice Kersten will hear both sides of the
interesting story. The widow claims that
the boys have corrupted her parrot to such
degree that he no longer delights in godli-
ness, but takes pleasure only in heathenish
practices and sinful conversation.